VISION AND PRINCIPLES

Our vision is to combine the best terroirs and provide a natural and unforgettable wine experience while respecting the natural characteristics of the Vipava Valley.

These are the principles we follow strictly:

1. We follow organic principles in everything we do
2. The wine matures at the vineyard
3. Wines are produced in a natural way

We follow organic principles in everything we do

We believe in the concept of sustainability. Most of the work at the vineyard - including harvest - is performed manually with respect for nature. It is only this deep respect for nature that allows us to build a sustainable ecosystem. At the same time, this is the only right approach to developing viticulture, oenology and healthy active tourism, all of which add something priceless to the wonderful landscape of Upper Branica.

In our sustainability efforts, we are assisted by nature itself:

The mixing of the Mediterranean and the continental climate, in combination with the bora wind, is specific to the Vipava Valley and greatly influences the production of premium quality grapes. The bora and the cold air from the Nanos plateau keep the ground cold and reduce humidity, which can otherwise cause grapevine diseases, so we are able to work the vine sustainably and in a way that is friendly both to nature and to the consumer.

All our vineyards are built in terraces at the altitudes above 220 meters. The average cant of our vineyards is 25% to facilitate air flow between the vines, drying them quickly, whenever they get wet. At the same time, this makes work at the vineyard more difficult and requires a lower crop load on the grapevines, which is an important factor in the production of premium wine.

The wine matures at the vineyard

We believe in the concept of terroir. A wine can only be great if it is produced from the best grapes and matured at premium wine growing sites. We place great importance on the wine growing tradition, and we believe that the old inhabitants of the Vipava region knew exactly which wine growing locations were the most appropriate for individual grapevine varieties, so we strictly adhere to this tradition. All Santei vineyards are planted at the locations where vineyards already grew in the past. We plant specific varieties at proven locations, where they produce the best results (e.g. Merlot at Brkovče, Rebula at Tamčez, etc.). This is the secret that makes Santei wines unforgettable.

Wines are produced in a natural way

We respect tradition. In our cellar technology, we follow the French school of thought. We use the traditional French wooden press for pressing grapes and utilize no additives in the winemaking process, apart from sulfur, which is added in minimum quantities necessary. The essence of our oenological processes is cleanliness, attention to detail and time, and these factors are accentuated with the premium grapes from our vineyards. We do not rush wine production; every wine needs the time to fully mature in the barrel before it is bottled. Then, wine needs to rest in the bottle for a while, so it can harmonize, before we offer it to our customers.

Traditional oenological processes are adapted to each grape variety and vintage, so we can produce the best wine in a given production year. Santei wines include a line of fresh whites, rosés, a mature cold-macerated white line and a line of mature red wines.